John Daly At 50: An Appropriately Fun Retrospective

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Kind of glad Herb Wind didn't have to do a New Yorker piece on this birthday.

John Daly gets a more appropriate retrospective from the SkratchTV gang. Oh, and Fuzzy owes Long John $150k according to USA Today's Josh Peter, money that will be well spent no doubt.

PS - Long John, two majors...shouldn't he be on a World Golf Hall of Fame ballot?

Early Photos Of Trump Turnberry Reveal Shocking Twist!

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Some of you may know I find the links golf move toward immaculately manicured jacuzzi bunkers to be a depressing evolution of seaside bunkering. Especially given what the old photographs show and the vitality of naturalness in links golf.

So imagine my shock and joy in seeing the first photos emerging from Trump Turnberry showing off the finished product. No more bathtub bunkers. Architects Mackenzie and Ebert deserve most of the credit, especially since they convinced The Donald to go this route.

Exciting stuff from Turnberry, which reopens soon and will be getting a full inspection from yours truly this July:


And click on the lower left photo to see the new par-3...

 

European Tour Winning Battle Of The Bridgestone?

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The news of Rory McIlroy choosing to play the European Tour's 100th French Open June 30-July 3rd instead of the WGC Bridgestone (where he's a former winner and where the European Tour will not be a co-sanctioner this year), allowed ESPN.com's Bob Harig to point out the ugly scheduling showdown between tours.

And based on McIlroy's decision, Harig says the PGA Tour's decision to hold its ground on the WGC date (or having the event at all this year) has backfired.

This WGC's traditional date is prior to the PGA, which wasn't going to work. So what to do?

Move it to a time on the schedule that clearly rankles a so-called partner in these events, the European Tour? Clearly the two sides discussed the situation, with the European Tour expressing its unwillingness to bend on its schedule. And the PGA Tour did it anyway?

McIlroy won't be the only top player to skip Akron. Henrik Stenson is also not going, meaning he will miss two WGCs this year. And defending champion Shane Lowry has a brutal decision to make as a European Tour member who dearly wants to be part of the Ryder Cup team but can't earn any points at the Bridgestone.

"With friends like Michael, Tiger is all set for detractors."

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Thanks to reader Tom for Marina Hyde's entertaining Guardian look at the most surprising component of Wright Thompson's feature on Tiger's downfall: the comments of Michael Jordan.

Considering the two might have to share a cart at this fall's Ryder Cup--assuming Tiger can fit on the seat next to MJ's dad jeans--the comments were rather strong. Perhaps because they arrived late in the 11,000 word piece they didn't care as much weight, but as Hyde notes...

“What does he do all day?” wonders Jordan, rather unwonderingly. “I don’t know. I haven’t the slightest idea. I don’t know.” Of Woods’s failed marriage, he observes: “It’s a ship he can’t right and he’s never going to.” Alrighty. Might he not find someone else? “I don’t know if he can find that type of happiness.” Oof. There is, of course, a fine line between tough love and toxic buddydom – even if it feels like we crossed it a couple of fairways back.

Fox Revamps, Reduces Broadcast Team For 2016 U.S. Open

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As remarkable as Fox Sports was in 2015 with its first year golf coverage--so says the USGA President--they've overhauled and shrunken their 2016 announce team.

Besides Greg Norman's retirement after just a year and Corey Pavin not returning, Awful Announcing points out some notable new faces, including Paul Azinger, Curtis Strange, Ken Brown and Jaime Diaz.

And this:

Furthermore, Oakmont director of golf Bob Ford will provide special insights on the course for the US Open broadcast from the historic venue.

Perhaps the most notable thing to mention on the full Fox lineup outside of the Azinger-Norman switch is the absence of Fox NFL Sunday host Curt Menefee, who served as the network’s studio host for the US Open, and analyst Tom Weiskopf.

R.I.P. Manuel de la Torre

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Thanks to the readers who sent in Gary D'Amato's obituary of Manuel de la Torre, golf instructor extraordinaire who passed away at 94. The man who helped thousands also worked with Carol Mann and Tommy Aaron.

He sounds like quite the instructor:

He eschewed modern teaching philosophies that focused on specific body positions and movements. Though he could talk in great detail about the geometry and physics of the swing, his method was based on the simple concept of swinging the club toward the target.

"You don't think about your elbow when you're brushing your teeth," de la Torre said in a 2015 interview with the Journal Sentinel. "And yet, you're very successful at brushing your teeth. But this is what happens with golf. People are not concerned enough with what they have to do with the club. They focus either on the body or the ball, and neither of those things produces consistency.

Baker-Finch: Olympics Needs Team Format ASAP

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Some of us don't want to say I told you so, but it's fascinating to hear a narrative brewing from those dealing with the players who are passing on the Olympics: Zika virus and the format.

As I noted on ShackHouse this week, a very solid source has told me that the South Africans are passing largely because of concerns about the Zika virus and their desires to have children free of birth defects, but I didn't get to mention in the show, it was also pointed out that the format does not force players into a team situation.

AAP talked to Ian Baker-Finch who all but backed this up with his "team" Australia member Adam Scott.

"I don't think people realise that Adam is not letting anyone down. It's his decision and he's entitled to make it. I am disappointed he won't be with us but I totally understand his position."

Baker-Finch has passed on his thoughts to the International Golf Federation.

While Gary Player and others fear the pullouts will affect the vote to keep the sport in the Games past 2020, Baker-Finch hopes it will just make them heed format change calls.

"I think it will make them think about making it a team competition. I'd even love to see it as a mixed team even - that would be awesome."

I don't know the feasibility of mixed, but it's fascinating as a longtime format hater to see so many no only coming around to a team element, but actually suggesting that such a format forces players to show up compared to an individual stroke play tournament.

Also, there is the radar issue for players: this is a first year event. Granted, as Baker-Finch pointed out last weekend it's also the world's oldest sports gathering, but Jason Day explained why that doesn't mean much to golfers. Ryan Lavner reports.

ShackHouse Podcast: Patrick Reed, Tiger, Olympics, Millennials

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We're back after a two week hiatus we return with world No. 12 Patrick Reed fresh off his second place finish in the Valero Texas Open.

We discuss his bold play on 18th hole, the wait to hit the shot, his attempt to hole the eagle chip, his desire to make the Olympics, key food insights and more.

House and I also kick around the latest in Tiger and Olympic news, along with my criticism of the reaction to the Bahamas boys antics.

Here is the Soundcloud link to the Reed show.

iTunes link to the Reed episode and free subscription opportunities. And here are the current show pages for iTunes and for Stitcher. And those relying on pushed pods to your mobile device should have it soon.

As for a few things mentioned in the show...

Our presenting sponsor Callaway Golf has launched a Roku app with great content (AppleTV coming soon), including Callaway Live and other goodies. The Callaway community, sponsor of this week's Speed Round, is a must if you're a latest-and-greatest buyer. For those intrigued by Callaway's iron 50% trade-in offer, here's their iron selector page.

And don't forget that promo code HOUSE for some MeUndies, this week's sponsor! House swears by them.

Content wise, also mentioned:

Valero Open final round highlights from the 18th hole

Patrick Reed's post-round comments as reported by Will Gray

Wright Thompson's Tiger Woods story

My commentary on the millennial vacation for the ages

Tiger's swing as it looks today (Matthew Rudy with help from instructors dissects here).

Schwartzel Passing On Rio Too, Another Crisis Averted

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Charl Schwartzel is telling South African Olympic team captain Gary Player he can take his Olympic dreams and live them out through someone else, joining fellow countryman Louis Oosthuizen in announcing on the eve of more rigorous drug testing that he's skipping the Rio games. His reasons, if you care, were not clear.

Gary Player was not pleased, reports AFP:

"I would have given anything to play in the Olympics. South Africa had a great team, but now obviously, it will not be as good."

Yes, but I'm not sure golf could survive another rally-killing major win by the South African. One was enough.

Tiger Opens Bluejack National: First Round Since Last August

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Well maybe those who don't want to see him tee up before he's absolutely ready may not need to worry about Tiger Woods teeing off for a while, as he revealed Monday's Bluejack National opener was his first since August, 2015.

Then again, as I noted in this week's Forward Press look at the week ahead, anything is possible with a man who showed up at a Masters untested. He has until late Friday afternoon to decide on Quail Hollow, so there is always the chance he enters a favorite tour event next week.

Bob Harig reports from the club home to the first Woods design in North America. It's a redesign of an existing course, opened on what appeared to be a much-needed beautiful day for Houston.

"I'm definitely a little tired but I feel pretty good," Woods said in an interview afterward. "I haven't been out here playing like this. I hadn't played any holes until today. I know people have said I've played holes back at Medalist, but I haven't. This is actually the first time I've played holes since Wyndham. It's been awhile.

A short highlight reel from the opener heavy on Woods, light on good looks at the course. And you may recall the club's short course opened in rather unbelievable fashion.

Mike Tirico To NBC; The Open Championship On His List

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John Ourand reports that the hardest working man in sports TV--Mike Tirico--is leaving ESPN for NBC and it sounds like the Olympics and some golf were part of the draw.

With Dan Hicks doing Olympic swimming, Tirico could be in line to host the Olympic golf coverage and also serve as host of The Open Championship coverage on NBC, an event he made no secret about adoring during his ESPN years. His ESPN contract is up this summer, so it's hard to say when his new affiliation begins.